24 Weeks Pregnant

When you are 24 weeks pregnant, there will be a rapid development in your baby’s growth and also your uterus increasing in its size. You will notice great changes in your baby. It aids to be an informed expecting mother and it also aids to be confident that everything will be fine.

If you want to take a pre pregnancy vacation, this is the right time to plan one. If you travel by car, make sure that you take frequent breaks and if you travel by plane, you should know that airlines will allow you to travel only before pregnancy week 32.

When you are 24 weeks pregnant, the top of the uterus reaches just above the navel. You can clearly observe the baby’s movements at this point of pregnancy and it may seem like the circus is being held inside your belly. Actually these movements will decrease when you reach end of the pregnancy because there is not much room left to move around.

Gestational diabetes causes various problems during pregnancy. Excess sugar can freely pass through the placenta to the fetus thus causing the blood vessels that go to the placenta become inflamed and deprive the baby of oxygen and vital nutrients. When the baby absorbs sugar levels, he/she starts producing insulin and gains weight too quickly.

Symptoms experienced by 24 weeks pregnant woman:

You may notice some swelling in your ankles and feet. Slight swelling is normal during pregnancy, but if you notice swelling all over the body, then you should contact your healthcare provider. Pregnancy swelling can be a sign of preeclampsia. Having high blood pressure is an indicator that you have preeclampsia. Not every time, high blood pressure is an indication of preeclampsia. Even you have elevated blood pressure, make sure to eat a healthy diet and stay active. Inactive, highly stressed and overweight pregnant women have higher chances of developing preeclampsia.

Apart from these symptoms there are some problems that you experience during your pregnancy week 24, such as constipation, occasional headaches, lower abdominal achiness, leg cramps, backaches, vision changes and mild swelling of the feet and ankles.

Physical changes that occur in a 24 weeks pregnant woman:

You may start gaining more weight from this week. Make sure that you are eating healthy foods and practicing low impact workouts regularly. The average weight gain including your baby’s weight and extra fluids should be in between 20-35 pounds. Too much or too little weight gain can indicate a problem during pregnancy. If your weight gain is either of these two, then you should consult your healthcare provider and discuss about the possible risks and complications.

This week you may be noticing faint stretch marks on your abdomen, breasts and hips. 90% of the pregnant women notice stretch marks which eventually disappear after the child birth.

Your belly button pops at some point as the growing uterus on everything in its path. Everything will become normal after the delivery.

Fetal changes that occur in a 24 weeks pregnant woman:

When you are 24 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of 14 inches long and weighs about 2 lbs. Now most of the baby’s weight is in muscles, organs and bone mass.

By this week, your baby has completely developed fingernails, testicles and ears. You can observe rapid eye movement of the baby when you get 24 weeks pregnant ultrasound.

Baby’s skin becomes more wrinkled. As each week passes, muscle development and fat deposition can make the skin look smoother.

During pregnancy week 24, your baby’s organs are completely formed and continue to mature. Also, during week 24, your baby’s lungs begin to develop little branches and also they start to produce a substance called surfactant.

After pregnancy week 24, the level of amniotic fluid increases and the process continues until the birth.

Your baby identifies his/her position in amniotic sac as the inner ear is well developed. The baby can clearly hear your heartbeat, bowel movements and also responds well to the music.

What care should be taken by a 24 weeks pregnant woman?

Wearing a supportive bra is very much essential to prevent excessive sagging of the breasts and also helps prevent or reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Avoid overstressing and pay close attention to what is happening with your baby. The pattern of baby’s movements is a trusted indicator. If there is any significant modification, it is an indicator that something is not right.

This week, your doctor may recommend you a glucose screening test, which is one of the most important prenatal tests. It can be done between pregnancy weeks 24-28. This test can determine the existence of gestational diabetes, which is most common during pregnancy. Diabetes during pregnancy can cause your little one to born with low blood sugar. Also, there is more chance to opt for C-section instead of normal delivery because of the unusually large babies.

When you are entered into the 6th month, it is the right time to know about some warning signs. You need to contact your healthcare provider, if you experience any of the signs of preterm labor, such as vaginal bleeding, watery vaginal discharge, more frequent uterine contractions, changes in the pattern of baby’s movements, severe headaches, abdominal pain, backaches, and pain when urinating.

Have a wonderful journey of the pregnancy!! Go on to know more about the exciting things during pregnancy week 25…

About kymberlywilliams

Pregnancy is an awesome experience every woman looks forward to in her life one time or the other. This is a unique joy of being a woman – a stage wherein a woman carries a child in her womb for as long as 40 weeks or 9 months.